This old heart of mine been broke a thousand times
Each time you break away, I fear you’ve gone to stay
Lonely nights that come, memories that flow, bringing you back again
Hurting me more and more… 

On a dark rainy night in 1969, seven mysterious strangers encounter each other at the once legendary El Royale, a motel with a dark past. Each person has secrets, and over the course of that stormy night, chaos and death ensues.

I won’t lie– a lot of this film is a slow burn. It’s a real character piece, and takes its time. But if you’re used to slow films, like any of Sergio Leone’s spaghetti westerns, you know that they often build in tension and lead to explosive finales. Bad Times is just like that, and it’s great.

This film featuring a wide (and wild) spectrum of interesting characters like a Catholic priest (Jeff Bridges), a home supplies salesman (John Hamm), an ex hippie and her impressionable sister (Dakota Johnson and Cailey Spaeny), a struggling soul singer (Cynthia Erivo), a bumbling concierge (Lewis Pullman), and a sadistic cult leader (Chris Hemsworth), who are all not as they claim to be and are not at the motel for the same reasons.

What transpires are multiple story lines that twist and intersect, jumping back and forth in time to show some of the same events from different point of views (somewhat similar to a Tarantino film). Doesn’t sound like a slow burn, right?

Well, in between a lot of the crazy, Oh-my-God moments, and long scenes that take their time to show who the characters really are. This is a very character-driven movie, and almost all of them end up changed by the end of the narrative.  Plus, many of those slow moments are unsettling, and just help to raise the film’s suspense (bravo to the cinematographer, who chooses to feature a lot of long takes that don’t cut away from what’s happening on screen).

This neo- noir thriller also features a lot of great music from the 60s, especially rock and Motown hits (like the one quoted at the top). Just like in Guardians of the Galaxy, the music plays a part in the story, and perfectly sets the mood for each scene. Cynthia Erivo’s Darlene Sweet, the soul singer and eyes of the audience, sings a few of these in breathtaking extended sequences. And If you’re familiar with any of these songs, I guarantee that you’ll sing along and tap your feet.

This film might not be for everyone, but if what I’ve said about it interests you, I encourage you to go check it out!